Japan will produce up to 10,000 silver coins for the Laotian central bank to commemorate the 60th anniversary this year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Finance Ministry and Japan Mint said Tuesday.
Laos will be the eighth country for which Japan has manufactured coins since World War II. The commemorative coin depicts Pha That Luang, a symbolic national temple in Vientiane, and has a face value of 50,000 kip ($6).
The back of the coin shows a cherry blossom and plumeria, the Laotian national flower.
"The order will contribute to further enhancing bilateral ties," Finance Minister Taro Aso told a news conference.
Most of the coins will be sold in Japan at ¥6,171 each, with online orders accepted from Wednesday until April 3.
The Finance Ministry and Japan Mint are making efforts to gain orders to mint foreign coins as demand for coins in Japan declines amid the spread of digital money.